Rail supplier news from J&A Industries, B&B Roadway, Alstom, Vossloh, L.B. Foster, Birmingham Rail and EnerSys (Feb. 28)

RR Mergers & Acquisitions announced the sale of J&A Industries to B&B Roadway and Security Solutions. Headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., J&A supplies signal equipment to major railroads, including BNSF Railway Co. and Union Pacific Railroad. J&A Industries will continue all current operations at both of its Kansas City facilities, according to a press release.

Alstom has delivered to Chennai Metro Rail Ltd. the first two metro sets of Chennai's future metro system in India. The trainsets are the first to be manufactured in India at Alstom's new rolling stock facility in Sricity, Andhra Pradesh. They are part of a $335.6 million order representing 42 Metropolis trainsets to be delivered by 2015. Also, 10 of Alstom's Citadis Dualis tram-trains were placed into service on the Nantes-Chateaubriant railway line in France, which was inaugurated today. Additionally, Alstom today plans to deliver the first tram sets of its Citadis Compact to the local authority of Pays d'Aubagne et de l'Etoile.

Vossloh Fastening Systems has been awarded a contract to supply rail fastening systems for a new heavy-haul line in Mongolia. The line will run from coal mines in Tavan Tolgoi up to Gashuun Sukhait at the border with China. Shipments of the first fasteners will begin in a few weeks and, according to present plans, be completed in first-half 2015.

L.B. Foster Co. announced fourth-quarter 2013 net sales increased 11.2 percent to $156.5 million compared with the prior year quarter due to a 67 percent increase in construction segment sales, partially offset by a 6 percent reduction in rail segment sales and a 29.3 percent decline in tubular segment sales. Fourth-quarter income from continuing operations was $7.3 million, or 71 cents per diluted share, compared with $6.6 million, or 65 cents per diluted share, a year earlier. Bookings for the quarter rose 21.5 percent to $140.5 million due to improvements in tubular and rail segment orders, including a strong quarter in coated products.  The December 2013 backlog was $183.1 million, 13.2 percent lower than in December 2012.

Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co. Inc. recently named David Gerstner territory manager. He will be responsible for business development along the Atlantic Coast. Gerstner is an industry veteran with more than12 years of experience with RailWorks Corp.

EnerSys® has launched the initial phase of its enhanced corporate global website, www.enersys.com. The first phase is focused on North American markets.